Lady Monarchs Host Zips and Wolfpack In Final Two Non-Conference Games This Weekend

NORFOLK, Va. -- The ODU Lady Monarchs (5-1) play host to a pair of non-league opponents this weekend, in the teams final non-conference weekend of the season. In a doubleheader with the men's team on Friday night, ODU will host the undefeated University of Akron Zips (5-0) at 6 p.m. and will also entertain the unbeaten N.C. State Wolfpack (7-0) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The games will offer a true test before the Lady Monarchs begin the CAA season next weekend. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for children, seniors, military and faculty/staff.

ODU is ranked 9th in the Mid-Atlantic Region by SOCCER BUZZ MAGAZINE and 10th in by the NSCAA/adidas coaches poll. The Lady Monarchs are led offensively by senior Shavon Knight (7 g, 2 a) with 16 points and rookie Victoria Johnson (4 g, 4 a) with 12 points. In goal, ODU has leaned on Lauren Tupman who has posted three shutouts in six games, maintaining a 0.81 goals against average (GAA).

ODU boasts a 15-game unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents at home, dating back to the start of the 2004 season.

Friday night, the Lady Monarchs will look to bounce back after suffering the first loss of the season last Sunday, 2-1 at Radford University (4-0-2). The Zips come into Norfolk on a season-opening five-game win streak. The eight-year old program has started this strong just once before, in 2006 with a seven game win streak to open the season.

MAC Player of the Week Jordan Baranowski helps lead an offense that has scored 15 goals in just five games, ranking the offense 16th nationally. This will be the first matchup all-time against the Zips for the Lady Monarchs.

On Sunday, ODU will host the 10th best team in the Southeast Region, according to both SOCCER BUZZ MAGAZINE and the NSCAA/adidas coaches poll, N.C. State. The Wolfpack are off to their best start since 1991 by winning their first seven games. The ACC foe will face William & Mary on Friday night before coming to Norfolk to face ODU.

The Wolfpack are strong on both sides of the ball, boasting the league-leader in points and assists, Lindsay Vera, who has also scored three goals, and the league's top netminder in rookie Kim Kern. Kern leads the ACC in GAA (0.25), save percentage (.952) and saves per game (5) while compiling a 4-0 record and has split time with sophomore Rachel Barnette, who is 3-0 with 1.00 goals against and one shutout.

NC State has never lost to the Lady Monarchs, posting a 2-0-1 advantage, but ODU played the Wolfpack to a draw in Raleigh last season. The two losses for Old Dominion came in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.